What Causes Hiccups in Babies
Summary: We all swallow air or so we think, but the truth is, we breath air.  Swallowing air causes the hiccups.  Most adults are troubled to the point of actually being aggravated when they get the hiccups but fortunately it doesn't seem to bother babies - They swallow a lot of air!  Usually they gobble up this extra air when they're feeding from a bottle.

And though there are other factors that can cause this, such as irritation to the nerves that control the diaphragm, (from hot, spicy or carbonated foods), the main cause of in babies is swallowing air.  The air bounces off of the diaphragm causing what we call 'the hiccups', a Latin word meaning, "Sobbing while catching your breath".

The diaphragm expands as air draws into the lungs and as it relaxes and deflates, the air is let back out.  A spasm in this muscle causes an abrupt gulp of air to rush through the windpipe that is quickly forced closed, stopping the flow of air, causing the vocal cords to snap shut, resulting in the well known "hic up" sound.  Richard Garcia, M.D., a Pediatrician at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio advises, "There is a lot of opinion but very little scientific certainty about why hiccups occur".  Dr. Garcia states that even though there is no definitive cure for the hiccups, for infants his recommendation is to hold your baby upright against your shoulder and gently pat her on the back.

Babies take this in their stride and normally do not allow them to become troublesome.  A hiccup episode can last anywhere from a few minutes to as long as a few hours.  Providing that they are not persistent and constantly, present they are not harmful.  There are many home remedies but none are easy or advisable to administer to a baby, so the best remedy is to swaddle, rock and love on your baby if she becomes fussy.   They will go away on their own once the air is absorbed into her system.  If your baby gets the hiccups while she's feeding, which is the most common time for babies to begin hiccupping, just continue feeding.  The epiglottis will secure the entry to the lungs and prevent milk and formula from going where it shouldn't if your baby swallows and hiccups at the same time.

Toddlers and older children also have a tendency to get the hiccups, and the older they get, the less patience they have for them.  Generally with toddlers and older children the primary cause is caused by swallowing air, but they can also be caused by drinking carbonated drinks (soda) and over eating, causing their stomach to become distended.

Should you fear that your baby or older child is hiccupping too much or too often, have her pediatrician look into the matter.  He can rule out the possibility of an underlying medical condition that might be the cause of the issue.

Because there is no absolute cure, patting your baby or toddler on the back, stroking her head and gently bouncing her may settle her if she becomes unsettled.  Older children might be able to try some of the home remedies like holding their breath, eating peanut butter or drinking a glass of water to resolve the issue.  When all else fails, remember that the hiccups are a temporary annoyance and they bother the adults more than they bother the babies who have them.